Set of Five Massimo and Lella Vignelli Lacquered Acorn Armchairs
About the Item
- Creator:Massimo and Lella Vignelli (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32.5 in (82.55 cm)Width: 21 in (53.34 cm)Depth: 20 in (50.8 cm)Seat Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 5
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Mid-20th Century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Excellent joinery and craftsmanship with age appropriate wear. Rush seats are faded with light wear as seen in photos.
- Seller Location:Rio Vista, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1555225435312
Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Massimo Vignelli and Lella Vignelli’s legacy can be seen everywhere in the logos of Bloomingdale’s, Ford and American Airlines, among others. In addition to their work in branding, they were prolific creators of modernist home furnishings, products and interiors, and the duo’s collaborations, which span 50 years, have left a profound mark on design and wider visual culture.
After meeting in Italy, Lella (1934–2016) and Massimo (1931–2014) began working together in 1961 and a decade later formed Vignelli Associates in New York. A self-described “information architect,” Massimo was committed to streamlining complex ideas into clear, visually arresting forms. (Witness the graphic identity that he cocreated with Bob Noorda for the New York City Transit Authority as well as his influential 1972 subway map.) The Vignellis’ most recognizable piece, for example, may be the Handkerchief chair, a stackable office chair made of compression-molded plastic that has the look of a cloth floating in air. It was created for Knoll in 1983 after they designed the brand’s logo.
Evidence of the couple’s influence can also be found in their Saratoga line (1964), the first collection of lacquered furniture, which helped herald in the trendy “glossy” look of the decade (and beyond). When the Vignellis created the Poltrona Frau Interview chair in 1988 for an Italian television station, it became widely sought after, “which goes to show you the power of the TV media,” the couple once said. Much like their elemental graphic designs, the Kono (1984) and Pisa tables (1985) — both created for Casigliani — cull the form of the table down to geometric shapes.
Vignelli furniture is often labeled as Massimo Vignelli’s alone, though he fought to have Lella recognized for her work, even throwing away magazines that neglected to give her due credit. As he wrote of their lifelong collaboration in his book Designed By: Lella Vignelli: “It is not holding a pencil with four hands that makes a partnership; it is sharing the creative act and exercising creative criticism which is reflected in the end result.”
Find vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli seating, tables and other furniture today on 1stDibs.
Erin Lane Estate is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and its team of furniture restorers, art curators, professional appraisers and Asia specialists sources prime vintage and antique furniture from the finest estates in Northern and Southern California. Erin Lane Estate specializes in Hollywood Regency, McGuire, Chinese and Japanese pieces.
You May Also Like
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs
Steel
20th Century Italian Dining Room Chairs
Steel
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Lacquer
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1980s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Steel
20th Century American Modern Side Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1980s American International Style Armchairs
Steel, Chrome
Vintage 1980s American International Style Armchairs
Steel, Chrome
Vintage 1980s American International Style Armchairs
Steel, Chrome
More From This Seller
View All20th Century Polish Vienna Secession Armchairs
Cane, Bentwood
20th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Nickel
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Steel
20th Century Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Ultrasuede, Birch
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Still Thinking About These?
All Recently ViewedRead More
The Italian Husband-and-Wife Duo Who Redefined Design in America
For six decades, the multidisciplinary New York City studio of Massimo and Lella Vignelli produced some of the most powerful visual expressions of our age, from graphics to jewelry to furniture.
Painter Ira Yeager Customized This Antique Table with His Trademark Speckled Finish
The bold piece blurs the line between furniture and contemporary art.